Device for keeping ice off the sterns of vessels



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. S. KING.

DEVICE FOR KEEPING IOE OFF THE STERNS 0F VESSELS. No. 328,229. PatentedOct. 13, 1885.

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(No Model.)

7 2 SheetsSheet 2. G. S. KING.

H DEVICE FOR KEEPING ICE OFF THE STERNS 0F VESSELS. N0. 328,229.Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

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Witnesses.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. KING, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR KEEPING ICE OFF THE STERNS OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 328,229, dated October13, 1885.

Application filed April 16, 1885. Serial No. 162,395. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. KING, of the city of Pittsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Devices for Keeping Ice Off the Sterns of Boats;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced by the formation of iceupon thepaddlewheels of steamboats, and particularly that class of boatsnavigating the Western rivexs known as stern-wheelers, in which the icewould form on the fantails, bulk-head, rudder, and in the middle of thewheel to such an extent in cold weather as to require the tying up ofthe boat and the chopping off or thawing off of the ice with hot water.This was not only an extremely slow and laborious butalso a veryinefficient method, and frequently when the rivers were falling and theboats had but a limited timein which they could safely get out theirtows the time thus lost exposed the boat to the danger of losing itsopportunity of getting out. My invention is designed to accomplish theeasy and rapid freeing of these parts of theboat from the ice withoutthe necessity of stopping or of hard labor.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a side elevation of the stern of a boat. Fig. 2 is an endelevation. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are views of the pipe by which theexhaust-steam is conveyed from thesteam-cylinder to the stern of theboat and directed against any desired point.

Like figures of reference indicate like parts.

The steam-cylinders 1 of the boat 2 are placed in the usual position.Connecting with the ex haust-pipe 3 of the cylinder is apipe, 4, whichleads back to the stern bulkhead 5. At the rear end of the pipe 4 is aswiveled section, 6, which fits over the end of the pipe 4, and isprovided with a flange, 7, being secured to the pipe4 by straps 8, bentover the flange 7 in such a manner that the section 6 is capable ofbeing rotated on the end of the pipe4, thesection 6 being provided withradial handles9 for the purpose of turning it. The section 6 extendsthrough the bulk-head 5,and at its outer end is bent to an obtuse anglewith the axis of the pipe 4;. Secured in the same manner to the saidouter end of the section 6 is a swiveling nozzle, 10, which nozzle isprovided with handles 11 for the purpose of turningit in any desireddirection. In Fig. 3 the section 6 and the nozzle 10 are turned so as tobe bisected by a vertical plane passing through the axis of the pipe 4.In Fig. 4 the section 6 remains in the same position, but the nozzle 10is inclined to the right. In Fig. 5 the nozzle is inclined to the left,and in Fig. 6 the section 6 andnozzle 1O keep the same relative positionto each other, as is shown in Fig. 3; but the section 6 is turned to theright. These figures serve to indicate that the exhaust-steam from thepipe 4 may be directed by means of the swiveling section 6 and nozzle 10in any desired direction, so as to play either upon the wheel 12, thefan-tails 13, the rudder 14, or the bulk-head 5, as may be desired.Adjacent to the nozzles 10 are openings, which are closed by doors 15,so that access may be had through the bulkhead to the nozzle-pieces forthe purpose of turning them in any desired direction.

Thus constructed the operation of my improvement is as follows: WVhen itis desired to free the wheel or any of the other parts mentioned from anaccumulation of ice, thesection 6 and nozzle 10 of one or both pipesiare turned so as to discharge the exhaust-steam against the requiredpoint, and the exhaust-steam 1s permitted to impinge thereon until theaccumulated ice is melted from such part. The nozzles are then directedto the other-parts named until the stern of the boat is entirely freefrom ice. It is apparent that this operation can be carried on withoutstopping the boat and without any labor on the part of the men, exceptsuch as is necessary in turning the sections 6 and nozzles 10 to thedesired points.

The invention, while apparently simple in character,is one of greatutility. It not only effects a saving of hard and often dangerous laboron the part of the men, but avoids the loss of time which usually occursat a most critical moment. Avery large proportion of the stern-wheelersin use are engaged in the business of transporting large tows of coal,ore, and other merchandise in flats and barges,

which are secured to the boat, and in many of the rivers these cargoescan be taken out only during the times of rises in the river,which occurat certain periods of the year, and are usually of short duration. Anydelay in the passage is liable to lose the boat the opportunity oftaking advantage of the requisite stage of water, so that it is not anunusual occurrence for such a boat to be tied up away from home at somepoint for many weeks. This necessarily prevents bringing the merchandiseto its market, and involves the expense of maintaining the crew inidleness. The importance of any invention for preventingloss oftiineunder such circumstances is apparent, and the chief merit of thisimprovement consists in the fact that it removes a very fruitful causeof delay.

Itis apparent that the devices described may be adapted to convey thesteam to the wheel wherever the same may be located,whether at the sideor at the stern.

If desired, a valve may be arranged at the junction of the exhaust-pipeand the pipe 4, by which the steam may be shut off from the pipe 4 andexhausted in the usual manner.

The swiveling section 6 maybe omitted and the nozzle be swiveleddirectly to the pipe 4.

The pipe 4 may receive its supply of steam or hot water from the boilerof the boat; but this is not desirable for obvious reasons when therequisite supply can be obtained from the exhaust.

I do not desire to claim, broadly, a device for conducting steam to thepaddle-wheels of steamboats.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a steamboat, the combination of the pipe 4, leading from thesteam-exhaust to the paddle-wheel, a swiveling section, 6, and aswiveling discharge-nozzle, 10, situate at the end of the pipe 4,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a steamboat, the combination of the pipe 4, leading from theexhaust to the paddlewheel, with the swiveling section 6, providedprovided with handles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a steamboat, the combination of the cylinder-exhaust with the pipe4, leading to the stern of the boat, bulk-head 5, swiveling section 6,and swiveling nozzle 10, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April,A. D. 1885.

GEORGE S. KING.

Witnesses:

W. B. GoRwIN, Tnotms B, KERR.

with handles, and the swiveling nozzle 10, also

